Apu crafts a bright future

Akhtar Uddin Khan Apu, 35, has become a familiar name in the town for his attractive paper crafts.
Apu said he began his craftsmanship when he saw a programme on crafts on Discovery Channel two years back. Later, he experimented with making paper crafts that sold like hotcakes. This greatly encouraged him and he began making crafts on a larger scale.
“I collect hard paper rolls used for packing imported colour films from different colour labs of the town to make the items,” explains Apu, a father of two.
Presently he fashions flower vases, pen stands and other items from his rented home and the demand is good in the market, he says. His profit margin is fairly good as he buys his inputs for Taka 15 to 25 per item, which sells at Taka 30 to 50 in the market. All he needs is film rolls, colourful stickers of flowers, fruits and birds; off-set paper and scotch tape to make the items.
“Items on special order are sold at Taka. 150 to Taka 200 and I also get such orders every month,” Apu says. “I also take pictures of different traditional items to make special crafts,” he adds. Demand picks up at the fairs such as Baishakhi Mela. Recently at a Kirtan celebration at Durgabari Temple of the town, he made a fairly large profit and many people wanted to buy his products on a large scale.
“Actually, as the pioneer of the crafts, I enjoy making them,” says Apu smilingly. Apu can craft some 100 items per month and these are sold rapidly.
However, as he cannot engage more workers he is unable to undertake large-scale orders, says Apu, a low paid worker at a colour lab in the town. He has not given up hope and plans to continue his craftsmanship commercially, if he can manage requisite funds.
Apu's wife Fatema Akhtar Rani lends him a helping hand in adding finishing touches to his crafts.
Talking to this correspondent, Rani said at first she and other family members criticised Apu for making such products but later they realised that Apu's creativity paid off in the market. Now making such items has added an extra income that is a great help in supporting a four-member family, said Rani.